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How to Make a Terrarium

how to make a terrarium

Brace yourselves – I’m getting crafty for a moment! Today, I’m going to talk about how you can make your own terrarium in 10 minutes flat, with several easy steps. That’s all it took for me to make the one in the photo above. Also, if you’re on a budget this holiday season, these make fantastic budget-friendly gifts. And no two ever turn out quite the same.

I know I’m not usually posting any how-to posts or getting too crafty on the blog. But this is something that I really wanted to share with you guys because I have so much fun making these! My mom showed me how to make them, and it is such a blast! They are perfect for Christmas. And I do not have a crafty bone in my body, but I can still crank out a pretty decent looking terrarium, haha.

how to make terrarium

So, let’s start off with what exactly you’ll need to make these lovely little guys. You can buy it all online or in-store. (I’ll talk about both.)

  • There is also a “how-to” card at the end of this post you can print!

What you need for your terrarium:

*Potting soil: You can pick this up anywhere they sell garden supplies.. I found mine at Walmart. You can also order it, here

*Globe: Amazon, or your local Goodwill can have them occasionally.

*Fish tank gravel Any pet store, or you can order it here.

*Hens & Chicks cluster  I just picked a few from my mom’s backyard, but these are readily available at any greenhouse. Or click here to order them.

*Petrified moss: I found mine at Steins (a greenhouse), but you can also order it from Amazon in a wide variety of colors.

*Small sticks and rocks: Check outside 🙂

*Roll of twine: Any craft store, or click here.

How to make the terrarium:

*Step 1: You’ll first take a spoon and make “a little dirt hill.” You’ll build up the dirt so there is enough room for the hens and chicks to get their roots covered. You don’t need to fill in the front of the terrarium with dirt, because you will put your aquarium gravel there. Admittedly, I could have used more dirt for my terrarium. (Whoops!)

how to make a terrarium
Step 1: Make a “dirt hill” in the back of the terrarium.

 

*Step 2: Add your aquarium gravel to the front of the terrarium (just make sure you don’t add so much that it is spilling out the front).

how to make a terrarium
Step 2: Add aquarium gravel to the front of the terrarium.

 

*Step 3: Add your hens & chicks to the dirt part of the terrarium. I usually add 3 to mine. 1 larger one and 2 smaller ones. Also, the roots may be huge on these succulents. You can trim them to fit the size of your terrarium, and it will not hurt them. (I promise! These little guys are very resilient.) I always have to trim the roots. And just make sure the roots are covered when you plop them into the dirt.

how to make a terrarium
Step 3: Add the hens & chicks to your terrarium.

 

Step 4: Get creative! This is the part where you can make your terrarium unique. Add the petrified moss for a pop of color. You can also add a couple rocks and small sticks for some texture.

how to make a terrarium
Step 4: Add moss, sticks, and small rocks for a unique look!

 

*Step 5: Take a couple small spoonfuls of water to the dirt part of your terrarium. This will help to keep your hens & chicks from shifting if you’re taking your terrarium to a holiday event as a gift (trust me, I found this out the hard way – water them before leaving). This is also how you will water your terrariums. They just need a couple spoonfuls of water weekly or every other week.

*Step 6: Add the twine. I almost always forget this step. Haha. If you’re giving them as a gift, make the twine quite long…whoever is receiving it can always cut it short then, if they want.

how to make a terrarium
Step 6: Add the twine.

 

And that’s it! How easy is that? The terrarium pictured above is a larger one my mom made a few months ago. As you can see, the hens and chicks thrive in these terrariums! Be prepared to potentially re-home them, as they can sometimes get very tall (these had started out as the same size as the ones pictured in my terrarium).

How to Make a Terrarium

how to make a terrarium

An easy, budget-friendly terrarium ready in minutes with these several easy steps!

Prep Time 5 minutes
Active Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Difficulty Easy

Materials

  • Potting Soil
  • Glass Globe
  • Fish Tank Gravel
  • Hens & Chicks Cluster
  • Petrified Moss
  • Small Sticks & Rocks
  • Roll of Twine

Tools

  • Scissors
  • Spoon

Instructions

  1. You’ll first take a spoon and make “a little dirt hill.” You’ll build up the dirt so there is enough room for the hens and chicks to get their roots covered. You don’t need to fill in the front of the terrarium with dirt, because you will put your aquarium gravel there.
  2. Add your aquarium gravel to the front of the terrarium (just make sure you don’t add so much that it is spilling out the front).
  3. Add your hens & chicks to the dirt part of the terrarium. I usually add 3 to mine. 1 larger one and 2 smaller ones. Also, the roots may be huge on these succulents. You can trim them to fit the size of your terrarium, and it will not hurt them.
  4. Get creative! This is the part where you can make your terrarium unique. Add the petrified moss for a pop of color. You can also add a couple rocks and small sticks for some texture.
  5. Take a couple small spoonfuls of water to the dirt part of your terrarium. This will help to keep your hens & chicks from shifting if you’re taking your terrarium to a holiday event as a gift (trust me, I found this out the hard way – water them before leaving). This is also how you will water your terrariums. They just need a couple spoonfuls of water weekly or every other week.
  6. Add the twine. I almost always forget this step. Haha. If you’re giving them as a gift, make the twine quite long…whoever is receiving it can always cut it short then, if they want.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask away in the comments section below! Is anyone else making their Christmas presents this year? Let me know in the comments!

How to Make a Terrarium How to Make a Terrarium

how to make a terrarium
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16 Comments

  1. What a lovely idea. I bought a globe and I want to decorated with something Christmas related. After the holidays I’m going to make a terrarium similar to yours. Thanks for sharing xx

    1. Thank you so much, Anca! I can’t wait to hear how your terrarium turns out after the holidays. 🙂

  2. This is a really great idea! One of my friends has a terrarium on her desk at work and I’ve always thought it looked really cool. I am by no means a crafty person, so I’m glad you were so detailed with the instructions! I think I know a few people who will be getting terrariums this Christmas 🙂

    1. Thank you, Devinne! I hope you have a blast making them – and if you have any questions, just let me know! 🙂

  3. This is so adorable! I actually bought some of those glass globes from Marshalls last year to make my own, but I never got around to it. I think I’ll have to buy a kit if I ever want a terrarium of my own.

    Beauty V. Brains | Enter to win a Naked 3 palette!

    1. Thank you so much, Brittney! If you already have the glass globes, you should definitely try making some. 🙂

  4. I have always loves the way these terrariums look but always thought they would be hard to make. Can’t believe it only took you only 10 mins to make. Looks incredible! Would make a fantastic gift!

    Rebecca
    http://www.winnipegstyle.ca/Blog/default.cfm

  5. This is so cute and such a great idea! It’s a unique gift that really can brighten your mood on a dreary winter day. There’s something about having greenery inside your home that makes you feel more alive. These are so simple to make too! Never would have thought that haha.

    amandabrezovsky.com

    1. Thank you so much, Amanda! And I completely agree, having plants, terrariums, aquariums, etc. in your home makes everyone feel a little more alive (especially in the winter months). And it is SO easy. 🙂

  6. I always thought it will be quite difficult but now I know it is not. You did a beautiful job!
    Thank you so much for your nice comments on my blog. Really appreciate it! Please join us today for Color and Grace Fashion link up!
    Keep in touch and take care!
    Grace
    http://colorandgrace.com/

    1. Thank you so much, Grace! And I just stopped by the link up. 🙂 Hope you have a great weekend!

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